CIE continued its Global Competence Course (GCC) Guest Lecture Series with an inspiring session titled “THE NEXT! After.com”, delivered by ECUST alumnus and seasoned technology executive Mr. Tan Kah Ong on April 14 at the Qizhong, 7th Teaching Building.
From ECUST to the Global Stage
Mr. Tan holds an MBA from ECUST and a Bachelor’s degree in Electronic Communication Engineering from the Federal Polytechnic Institute of Malaysia. With over 30 years of experience in the global electronics and semiconductor industry, he has held key leadership roles at Inventec Group and OMNIVISION, where he served as Vice President and helped grow the China market from zero to USD 1 billion between 2005 and 2015.
Currently, Mr. Tan is Co‑Founder of JIIOV Technology (an AI sensing and human‑machine interaction solution provider), Managing Director and Partner of Inno‑chip Capital (focused on deep‑tech investments), and Founder of JOV Technology (specialising in CPO and Micro‑LED optoelectronic interconnects).
During the lecture, Mr. Tan shared his entrepreneurial journey and offered a comprehensive overview of four frontier technology fields:
✓ Silicon Photonics – Using light instead of electricity to enable faster, more energy‑efficient data transmission, critical for AI cluster scaling.
✓ Quantum Computing – Leveraging quantum mechanics for exponential computational power, with applications in cryptography, drug discovery, and logistics.
✓ Brain‑Computer Interface – Direct neural communication pathways for neuro‑rehabilitation, intention‑based control, and next‑gen immersive experiences.
✓ New Energy Storage – Next‑generation solid‑state and sodium‑ion technologies enabling large‑scale renewable adoption and deep decarbonisation.
Mr. Tan also highlighted real‑world applications such as under‑display 3D face recognition, eye‑tracking for AI glasses, hands‑tracking, lip‑reading recognition, and embodied AI training data.
Student Engagement and Industry Relevance
Students actively engaged with Mr. Tan during the Q&A session, asking about career pathways in deep‑tech, the future of human‑machine interaction, and how to transition from academic learning to impactful industry roles.
About the Global Competence Course (GCC)
“The GCC series brings us face‑to‑face with leaders who have actually built the technologies reshaping our world,” said one international student. “It’s not just theory—it’s the real work behind the next generation of innovation.”
Launched to support ECUST’s diverse international student body, the GCC integrates thematic guest lectures, corporate site visits, and hands‑on projects with industry partners. It reflects ECUST’s commitment to producing graduates who are not only academically excellent but also culturally agile and career‑ready.
